I’ve been silent on here for nearly two weeks, but it’s been for a legit reason. I’ve been adulting (being responsible and taking care of business like an adult.) And adulting is hard.

Adulting is hard when you started decorating and organizing your classroom a month early, and at the last minute you are still scrambling to get things exactly as you want them.

Adulting is hard when you bury the last of your grandparents.

Adulting is hard when you really want to curl up with a book, but the house won’t clean itself.

Adulting is hard when you are addicted to the written word and want to purchase more books, but the bills must be paid.

But you know what? Adulting is awesome.

Adulting is awesome because, although it may take until the evening before school begins, your classroom will be an inviting place that engages students. Because adulting is awesome, I’ll share classroom pictures soon.

Adulting is awesome because, as an adult, you understand your grandparents lived as long as they were supposed to live and now they suffer no more.

Adulting is awesome because, thanks to a loving spouse, you share the housecleaning responsibilities and both of you are able to engage in your hobbies. Because adulting is awesome, I finished reading a new series which I will review soon.

Adulting is awesome when you and your spouse are blessed to have decent-paying jobs that pay the bills AND allow a little splurging. Yes, I bought the books.

Adulting can be a challenge, but it’s also a wonderful blessing. Now, excuse me

Today is Worldwide Photography Day. Now, I claim to know nothing about photography. Focusing, lighting, speed . . . I've no clue what they mean in regards to photography. I take photos with my phone, and I simply point and click. However, in honor of World Photography Day, I am going to share my five favorite photos I've taken this year.

I took this on Valentine's Day. It captured the beauty of an icy morning.

This photo represents three things I enjoy: books, fairy tales, and Disney movies.

I love this photo of Rusty. It has the essence of a true photography session (sort of).

This is one of my favorite photos of Buddy because it captures his darling personality.

One of the first blooms on my bush this year. It epitomizes love and springtime.

Do you enjoy photography? What is the favorite photo you've taken? Share it in the comments! Until the next post . . . keep smiling!

It’s raining, it’s pouring,The old man’s snoring.He got into bedAnd bumped his headAnd couldn’t get up in the morning.

I don't know about the old man snoring and bumping his head in bed, but I do know that it's raining. Steadily. And has been for nearly two days. Now, I could write a post complaining about the rain, but I'm not going to because that's not me. I prefer to focus on the positive. So, what's positive about all this rain?

I'm not flooded from my house. Yet. Yes, Black River is overflowing. Yes, I live near the river. Yes, evacuation is a possibility, but it hasn't happened yet. And if I must evacuate, I am fortunate enough to have in-laws that will welcome my household into their homes for as long as necessary.

The humidity is tolerable. Southeast Missouri is notorious for extreme humidity in the summer. However, the rain has lowered the humidity to a rather pleasant level.

The mosquitoes are bearable. Mosquitoes LOVE Southeast Missouri, but they don't like constant rain. Lots of rain = mosquito relief.

The sound of rain is relaxing. The rain's puttering on the roof makes a wonderful soundtrack for reading.

The rain waters my plants. I love my roses, crepe myrtle, and Japanese maple, but I don't enjoy watering them in the humid, sticky summer evenings. Thanks to the rain, I won't need to for a while.

There is no drought. Droughts in the summer are a common Southeast Missouri occurrence. Not this year.

Um . . . that's all the positive rain thoughts I have at the moment. What about you? What do you enjoy about the rain? Let me know in the comments! Until the next post . . . keep smiling!

P.S. The school year in my district is starting late this year due to construction. I've been working in my classroom; hence, the lack of posts. Photos of my new classroom coming soon!

Since 2002, the eighth of August has been designated as a day to honor felines. So, on this day, I will proudly declare that I am a cat person, and am privileged to have three furballs as part of my family. Here are a few truths my fun-loving, furry felines have taught me.

Naps are a necessity. No, cats are not lazy; they need 12-16 hours of sleep daily. When I catch them napping, I must control the urge to awaken them by rubbing their bellies.

Belly rubs are optional. Speaking of rubbing bellies, a cat on his/her back with feet curled in the air is not an open invitation for a belly rub. If I choose to proceed with said belly rub, I must be prepared for a playful (and not so playful!) scratching of my hand.

If the paws fit, the cat fits. This includes shoes, boxes, etc.

Expensive toys are nice, but not necessary or necessarily appreciated. So, the stuffed furry mouse squeaks? Eh . . . who cares? A plastic milk ring is better. Or, better yet, a toy that belongs to the dog!

Cuddling occurs on their terms. I must refrain from placing kitties on my lap and expecting them to stay. When they want cuddles, they will come to me.

Food needs to be varied once in awhile. Kitties get bored with the same type of food, and will go on hunger strikes.

Expect the litter box to be used immediately after cleaning. It's always best to take care of business in a clean box.Cats don't ignore their owners. They don't always respond when called, but that is simply them refusing to be dominated.

This is what I've learned from my cats. I believe they've trained me well.

Recently, Netflix released another original series entitled Stranger Things, and it seems to have taken the United States by storm. Sean and I completed the series this past weekend, and I feel compelled to share my thoughts about it. As usual, I'm going to keep this as spoiler-free as possible with no synopsis and only my likes and dislikes.

What I Liked:The Setting: The story takes place in the 80's, and it truly has that 80's feel to it. It's almost like watching E.T. or something similar. Since I was a kid in the 80's, it's rather nostalgic, and I like it.

The Kids: Each child actually behaves and talks like a child. They are all endearing characters, but Dustin is my favorite.

Eleven: I don't know exactly what happened to that child, but she is AWESOME!

Portrayal of Teachers: Usually in movies that don't focusing on amazing teachers, the teachers are portrayed as rude individuals who care nothing for their students, are oblivious to things going on in their classrooms, and are only there for a paycheck. As a teacher, I can assure you that, for most teachers, this is a highly inaccurate portrayal. However, in Stranger Things, the teachers (especially Mr. Clarke) genuinely care for the students and take their jobs seriously. Bravo, Netflix. You portrayed the reality of teaching.

Chief Hopper: He's cool.

The Suspense: Each episode kept me on my toes, wondering what would happen next.

Chapters: The episodes are called chapters with their own titles. That's cool; it makes it seem like a visual novel (which it technically is).

What I Didn't Like: I did not appreciate one character not getting an on-screen funeral. This character deserved it. I also do not like how the season ended. What exactly is Chief Hopper doing? Where is El? Why is one character hacking up bits of alien material? Are we getting a second season? We'd better, because my inquiring mind NEEDS to know!

All in all, this series is AWESOME! If you haven't watched it, you definitely should. If you have, let me know what you think about it in the comments. Until the next post . . . keep smiling!